Briny green olives, fresh basil, and earthy cremini mushrooms transform a simple tomato sauce into a rich, vegetable-packed meal. You'll spoon this robust, chunky sauce over light tofu shirataki noodles to keep things low-carb but highly satisfying. It's a comforting, plant-forward bowl that proves you don't need heavy pasta to enjoy a hearty Italian-inspired dinner.
Prep
20 min
Cook
25 min
Total
45 min
Servings
6
Course
Category Veggie Pasta
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 cups sliced fresh cremini mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, undrained
½ cup pimiento-stuffed green olives, chopped
1 ⁄ 3 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon salt
2 packages (8 oz each) tofu shirataki noodles (spaghetti style), drained, rinsed well
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1Warm the olive oil in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and green bell pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften.
2Stir in the sliced cremini mushrooms and chopped garlic. Cook for another 5 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and their liquid evaporates. Cooking off the liquid concentrates the mushroom flavor and prevents a watery sauce.
3Pour in the crushed tomatoes, green olives, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt. Lower the heat, cover the saucepan, and let the sauce simmer gently while you prepare the noodles.
4Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a separate 3-quart saucepan. Cut the drained and rinsed shirataki noodles into 2-inch or 3-inch pieces so they're easier to eat.
5Drop the noodles into the boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the hot noodles completely and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate. The paper towels absorb excess moisture so the sauce clings better to the noodles.
6Portion the warm noodles into six serving bowls, allocating about 1/3 cup per bowl. Ladle 1 cup of the warm tomato and mushroom sauce over each, then finish with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Ingredient: Shirataki are very low-carb Japanese noodles packed in liquid. You'll find them near the refrigerated produce or tofu products at most grocery stores.
Prep: Always drain and rinse shirataki noodles thoroughly under cold water before using them to remove their natural earthy aroma.
Make ahead: The chunky garden sauce tastes even better the next day. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.